Wrapping machine



Aug. 17, 1937. o. G. s'rRAuss 2,090,559

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WRAPPING MACHINEFiled March 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i M? I l u 5 l d y E i, A 17g/j'//l/l/l Il 'M Aug. 17, 1937. O. Q STRAUSS 2,090,559

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Maron 3, 193e 5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed March 3,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEClaims.

l being held in place by twisting the mouth thereof about the orange,grapefruit, or other object being treated. None of these devices appearto have considered the problem of arranging the fruit in proper positionfor ellicient wrapping.

The twist in the wrapping according to prior practice was apt to come atany point on the object. While twisting a single wrapper about an oblateor similar object can be rapidly done by a machine, or manually,nevertheless, it has been found that much difculty frequently arisesbecause of the fact that failure to properly twist the wrapper willcause the latter to leave the fruit or to insecurely cover same. In factthis difficulty has been so well recognized that it has been designatedas waddingJ Furthermore, when using twisted wrapping methods the 1wrapped fruit does not have that well nished appearance which createsappeal to the eye of a prospective purchaser, the value of. such eyeappeal being well recognized and much de'- sred in modern merchandising.

One of the aims of this invention, therefore, is to obviate the abovedifficulty by providing a machine which wraps fruit without twisting ofthe wrapper and which employs a Wrapper formed of two portions, theportions being secured to each other adjacent their line lof meeting bya glued strip or a strip applied with adhesive or the like.

Another purpose is to create a wrapping machine which employs a wrappersuch as tissue or cellophane, and to provide means for withdrawingsheets of such wrapping material from a wrapper feeder and to positiontwo sheets about an object being wrapped.

Other aims and purposes will be apparent from the detailed descriptionhereinafter appearing, when taken in conjunction with the appendeddrawings forming a part hereof and to which reference is now made, andin whichz- Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing the entire machine whichembodies means for feeding the fruit shown partly broken away at theleft of the view; also means for` feeding the wrapping gnat-.ferial andfor positioning the same about the Fig. 2 is a vertical'sectional viewtaken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the fruit feeding portion of themachine;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of the plunger unit of. the machinewhich forces the wrapper into position within forming cups prior toapplication of the wrappers to the fruit;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing the strip applying unit (invertical section) located at the exit section of the machine, andoperative to apply a glued strip or a strip supplied with adhesive tothe wrapped object;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of one memberof the suction unit which operates to withdraw a wrapper from a wrapperfeeding unit, and which receives a single plunger from a plunger unit sothat the wrapper may be formed within the concave walls of the formingcups of the suction unit member.

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of asuction chamber which isoperatively connected to each of. a series of suction members or cups.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the rotary i portion of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view :of the bottom or fixed portion of thechamber of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on the line lI-ll of Fig. 6, showing the suctionvalve control associated with the suction member of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a rear view of the wrapper holding frame.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational View of the frame of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the strip applying means.

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of the Wrapped and sealed object as itleaves the machine.

The improved wrapping machine may be best described by sub-dividing itinto individual units, and it will be understood that while each ofthese performs a distinctive' operation, nevertheless all are arrangedfor synchronous operation from a power source and -cooperate with eachother to produce a unitary result. By reference to Fig. 1 it will beseen that the fruit feeding and positioning unit has been designed as D,the wrapper holder or container as B, the plunger unit as C, thewrapping unit as A, and the strip applying unit as E. There is one eachof units D and E, but there are duplicates of A, B and C which areidentified by characters A', B' and C'. Umts A', B' and C' cooperatewith units A. B and C and occupy positions which are essentially that ofan object and its mirror image. For the sake of clearness a detaileddescription will be given only of each of umts A, B and C. and it willbe understood that A', B' and C' are structural duplicates thereof,cooperating however with each other to produce a single unitaryobjective. namely, individually wrapped spherical, oblate and similar obects.

'ceferring first to unit D which is the fruit feeding and positioningportion of the machine. itA will be seen, Fig. 3, that it ischaracterized by a framework S, constructed of horizontal beams It,joined to vertical beams II, II', for supporting a pali'. of pulleys I2,I2', mounted for rotation on horizontal axes Il, I3' respectively. Theaxis I2 of pulley I2 is located vertically above that of axis I2' ofpulley I2', and a broad, fiat, inclined endless belt I4 passes over thepulleys. One of the pulleys may be driven from a suitable source ofpower to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction so that belt Il travelsin the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. 'Ihe belt Il isdisposed between laterally spaced members I4', which form the sides of achute, the bottom of which is provided by the belt Il, and the belt Ilis provided with a pair of rubber ribs I5, I5' which are suitablysecured to the belt and which extend throughout the length thereof. Theribs I5, Il', as is more clearly indicated in Fig. l, are equally spacedfrom the center of the belt, as well as the lateral edges thereof, andprovide a space for maintaining the fruit in the center of 'the chute.It will now be seen that fruit placed upon the belt Il will commencerolling down the belt by the action of gravity in a direction oppositeto the direction of movement of the belt. 'I'his action tends to spinthe fruit suillciently to throw it on its axis in which position it isguided between the ribs Il, I5' to the lower end of the chute centrallythereof.

As the fruit leaves the chute spinning in its axis it passes between apair of broad, endless idler belts I6, I6', which converge into asubstantially V-formation, the mouth of the V being towardthe ribs I5,I5'. 'I'he idler belts I6, I6' pass over freely rotatable pulleys |6'-,IIb, |62, I6a respectively. These pulleys are mounted for rotation onvertical axes as will be understood. While these belts have beendescribed as of substantial V-formation, it will be seen by reference toFig. ly

that they do not actually touch each other to form an apex, but merelytaper as required.

While pulleys I6* and I6 are mounted on stationary brackets, pulleys liband |61i are journalled on pivoted brackets I1 and IB, said bracketsjoined to each other by a tension spring I9. When a fruit passes betweenbelts I6, I6' and applies pressure thereto, the belts will divergeadjacent pulleys 'lib and |63 against tension of spring I9, to permitthe fruit to pass on, any conventional means being employed, such asstops, to maintain pulleys I6b and |63 in a definite spaced relationwhen a fruit is not passing between belts i6, I6. With the constructionjust described the fruit is firmly held in the position in which itleaves inclined belt Il, yet can be freely moved forward in a manner nowto be set out.

An endless belt 20 travels in a horizontal plane centrally below beltsIS-x I6', that is to say, forms a movable iloor therefor. Endless belt2l passes over pulleys 2|, 22, mounted on horizontal axes 23, 2l, pulley2| having a sprocket 25 i'lxed thereto for operation by sprocket chain26, actuated lthe inner surface of belt 2l.

from a suitable source of power to drive the belt 2l in the directionindicated by the arrow. Cooperating with the belt 2l and positionedthereabove is an inclined endless belt 2l, constructed similar to belt2l, and provided with spring means 2l which holds a tension pulley 3l incontact with Fingers 3| on belt 2l remove the fruit from the idler beltsIl, II'. It will be understood that the spacing of the iingers 2| on thebelt 2l is such that the fruit is fed in timed relationship to m9111118Unit A. Pulley 22 is mounted on a bracket 33 which is freely slidablewithin support Il secured to the framework S. The yieldable beltconstruction permits fruit of diiferent sizes to pass freely from thefeeder and positioning unit D, yet suiiicient pressure is constantlymaintained on each fruit until it leaves said last mentioned unit.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, there is shown in some detail the designof unit B, that is, the holder or container adapted to supply wrappersto unit A. As previously indicated, a duplicateB'islocateddirectlyoppositeB,and,asthese are of identical construction,a recital of unit B will sumce. 'Die holder proper comprises essentiallya cage I3, made up of individual spaced bars 2l, arrangedto enclose anannular space.` Eachbartlhasarollerllatitstipforthepurpose of retainingwrappers W within the cage, and for releasing a single wrapper whensuction is applied to the exposed surface of the latter. A springactuated follower 31 presses against the bottom of the stack of wrappersW, said follower being secured to a rod 2l' extending through anaperture in a plate 3l hinged at 3l to the cage Il. A snap lock Aor thelike 4| holds the lplate 28, said lock permitting the plate to bepivoted about its hinge 30 for withdrawal of follower Il for theinsertion of a stack or package of wrappers W within the cage I2. 'I'hecage 32 is rigidly supported on a carriage ll which is reciprocablymounted in a track xed on a supportl2.which in turn has a stop Mdefining the limit of movement of the carriage to the right as shown inFig. 12. A coiled spring or the like Il, normally draws the carriageagainst said stop. Carried by the support I2 is a rotatable pawl Ilformed with oppositely extending striking projections I1, Il' forcooperation with a pin Il on the carriage. Pinion 4l imparts rotation topawl 4l from a suitable source of power for synchronous operation withthe rest of the machine. From the above it will be seen that rotation ofpawl It causes its projections 41, ll' to alternately strike stop ll, tomove the carriage 4l and cage 33 to the left, as seen in Fig. l2,against tension of spring 45, and when the projections ride by the pinIl, the spring forces the cage and carriage back in track 42 againststop M. The limited movement of cage 33 and its wrappers W is essentialin that it furnishes a suiiicient time interval for the properwithdrawal of a single wrapper by the suction elements of unit A, to beshortly described. s

Taking up unit C and its duplicate C'. by reference to Figs. 1 and 4, itwill be noted that each comprises a supporting frame member Il,Journalling a pair of vertically rotatable shafts 5I and 52, the lastmentioned shaft having a driving pinion 53' keyed thereto, which in turnis driven from a motor or other source of power for synchronousoperation with the other units. Keyed to the upper end oi' respectiveshafts Si and I2 above the framework 50, for rotation in a hori-A zontalplane are a pair of sprocket wheels i3 and 75 54, provided with anendless sprocket chain 55. Carried by sprockets 55', suitably supportedby links 55"v of the chain 55, are a plurality of spaced plungers 56,each having a rubber head 51 carried by a stem 58, the latterterminating in a downwardly bent track engaging hook 59. Intermediateeach head 51 and the bracket 55', carried by the chain link 55", andencircling stem 58, is a compression spring 60. An irregularly l shapedtrackway 6| is supported in a plane parallel to, but above the plane ofthe sprocket wheels, by standards 62 resting on the framework 50.Rotation of shaft 52 by driving pinion 53' causes rotation ofthe-sprocket wheels 53, 54 and the as- `sociated chain 55 and brings thehook 59 of a plunger stem 58 to the entrance 62 of the trackway 6|. Theirregular shape of the trackway causes alternate contraction andexpansion of spring 60, and also a relative movement of the rubber head51 of each plunger toward and away from the trackway, as will beapparent from inspection of Fig. 1. tion of each plunger head 51 it isadapted to enter a forming cup 63 of unit A, as will be seen. Each unitA comprises a supporting frame 64, journalling a pair of spaced verticalshafts 65, 66, the last mentioned shaft having a pinion 61 keyed theretofor operation synchronously with the other units from a suitable sourceof power. Secured to the upper end of shaft 66 is a sprocket wheel 68rotatable in a horizontal plane above framework 64, while a similarsprocket wheel 69 is keyed to the upper end of shaft 65. An endlesschain 10 embraces sprocket wheels 68 and 69. Situated on the framework64 within the area enclosed by the chain 10, is an irregular trackway1|. Also centrally above this area and mounted above the framework 64Ais a reducedpressure chamber 12 having a series of outlet pipes 13. Thebody of chamber 12 rests on and is lrotatable in a Adished stationarybottom 14, a seal being maintained between chamber 12 and bottom 14 bymeans of oil or other fluid, in the space between flanges 14' and 14" onthe bottom 14.` A hollow pipe 15 connects chamber 12 through bottom 14to a vacuum pump (not shown), which maintains a reduced air pressurewithin chamber 12 and produces a suction through each of the hollowoutlet pipes 13. Secured to and movable with sprocket chain 10 are aseries of upright brackets 16, each having a plurality of parallelhorizontally extending arms 11, 18 and 19, formed integrally therewith,said arms extending inwardly toward the area encircled by chain 10.Rotatably mounted on a bearing 80, secured to a bracket arm 16, is aforming cup 63 having a substantially hemispher- `ical concave portion8|. A pair of parallel hollow suction pipes 82, 83 having a hollowconnecting pipe section 83', forming a U-shaped pipe assembly, islocated at one side of the axis of forming cup 63,'each of pipes 82, 83terminating in a rubber lip 84.

Movable axially in bearing 80, and in the axis of cup 63, is a pipe 85,similar to pipes 82, 83 and also terminating in a rubber lip 84'. Ashort hollow pipe section 86 is provided with a valve 81 whichcooperates with arm 18 in a manner that will be pointed out shortly.Joining an outlet pipe 13 to an inlet pipe 88 is a flexible hoseconnection 89, said inlet pipe 88 having a valve 90 for cooperation witharm 19 upon inward movement of the various pipes. Leading from valve 9 0is a short hollow pipe length 9| operatively connected to pipes 85 and86. Pipe 85 In the fully extended posi-v has a. downwardly extendinghook portion 92 which rides in irregular track 1|. Pivoted at 93 onbracket 11 is a trigger arm 94 which contacts a pin 95, as well as pipe86. A tension spring 96 tends to maintain contact between trigger 5 arm94 and pin 95.

As hook portion 92 riding in irregular trackway 1| reaches point 91 inits journey, that is, as it rounds sprocket 69, it, momentarily leavesthe Itrackway which is disconnected at this point 1o and," accordingly,pipes 82, 83 and 85 are forced forwardly through action of springoperated trigger 94, pipe being moved centrally through cup 63, and atthis moment lips 84, 84' of the pipes contact the outer surface of awrapper W 15 in cage 33, the latter moving a short distance with cup 63,as set out in the description of unit B. Forward movement of these pipesbrings valves 81 and 90 in contact with respective arms 18 and 19 toopen said valves, thus permitting 20 suction to be created therethrough,whereby a single wrapperis grasped from cage 33 by said lips and wherebysaid Wrapper is withdrawn from the cage. As chain 10 continues on itsjourney hook 92 re-engages in track 1|, withdrawing all 25 pipes tobring the wrapper W to the edge of cup 63, while further movement of thechain brings a forming cup to a position where a plunger head 56 entersthe cup, forcing the wrapper to conform to the concaved surface 8|thereof, and 30l simultaneously forcing all pipes rearwardly. Thisrearward movement operates valve 81 through arm 18 cutting off thesuction to pipes 82, 83, but still maintaining a suction in pipe 85,which holds the wrapper in its conforming 85 position to concave surface8| of cup 63, even after the plunger has been withdrawn from the cup. Inthis condition two cups 63 from units A, A pass the exit of unit D andapproach each other in opposing relationship, the units being 40 timedso that the cups embrace a fruit as it leaves unit D. At the same time acatch 98 situated in the path of movement of valve contacts and closesthe latter, thus cutting olf the suction in the pipe 85. Also at thispoint of the 45 operation of the machine a fruit F, Fig. 5, is heldbetween cups 63, 63', which roll on their axes through rolling contactwith a floor |00', bringing the edges of Wrappers W, W' into a stripapplying unit E, which applies a glued strip 99, 60 placed on the floor|00, of said unit. 'Ihe iinished wrapped product P is shown in Fig. 15.After the strip has been'applied in any conventional manner, the wrappedfruit P is discharged from the machine as the cups 63, 63' 55 separatethe path around their respective sprockets.

Although the invention has been described in some detail, it is to beunderstood that various modications and structural .features may be 60made, and it is intended to cover all such and to be limited in thisrespect by the claims hereto appended.

I claim:-

1. A wrapping machine comprising means for 65 positioning asubstantially spherical object to be wrapped, means for feeding a pairof individual wrappers, means for shaping the wrappers each to conformto the shape of half the object, means for bringing the shaped wrappersinto 70 opposing relation with the object therebetween, means forreleasing the wrappers into position about the object, and means forsealing the Y wrappers on the object.

2. A wrapping machine comprising means for 75 10 be wrapped, meanssynchronized with said feeding means for shaping a plurality ofindividual wrappers to conform substantially to the shape of a portionof the object being wrapped, and means io'r successively conveying apair of the 15 pre-shaped wrappers to each object for applicationthereto from opposed sides thereof.

4. A wrapping machine, a unit for feeding vobjects in succession intoposition to be wrapped, object holding and wrapper positioning meansmovable in succession past said feeding unit for cooperation with saidobjects, means for supplying individual wrappers to said object holding,

and wrapper positioning means, and means for shaping said wrapperswithin said object holding and wrapper positioning means prior toengagement thereof with the objects to be wrapped.

5. A wrapping machine comprising means for feeding objects into podtionto be wrapped, a plurality of cups movable in succession in opposedpairs -past said feeding means, means for supplying an individualwrapper to each of said cups prior to its reaching said feeding means,and means intermediate said wrapper supplying means and said feedingmeans for shaping said wrappers to conform with the shape of the objectsto be wrapped.

OBER G. STRAUSS.

